Saturday, October 29, 2011

Concert Series

"After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music."

(Aldous Huxley)

I thought it would be fun to post a series of video clips I recorded from concerts over the last year and a half. Before then, the only big concerts I had been to were country music performances: Garth Brooks in Central Park in 1997, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill at Madison Square Garden in 2000, and Brad Paisley, Sara Evans, and Sugarland at the Nokia Theater in 2005. I still love country, but in 2010 and 2011, I got to see Norah Jones, Ke$ha, Rihanna, the Wonder Girls, Apollo Run, Lady Gaga, Florence + the Machine, U2, and The Black Eyed Peas. This was all due to being invited by friends, and Sam who is a talented musician and avid music fan, so thanks to all of them.

If you get a chance, check out the videos below. Please excuse my asides in some of them, as well as the shakiness. I couldn't help dancing -- and, unfortunately, singing -- along.

Norah Jones

When: March 2010

Where: The Theater at Madison Square Garden, NYC

Songs: "Man of the Hour" and "Come Away With Me"

Notes: I have a special fondness for the first song, "Man of the Hour," because it's actually about a dog! And I love the second song, "Come Away With Me," which is so romantic. We sat towards the front of the theater, so this concert had a very intimate feel.

Rihanna

When: August 2010

Where: Madison Square Garden, NYC

Songs: "Take a Bow" and "Umbrella"

Notes: This was Rihanna's first US tour and she gave a nice shout-out to New Yorkers and Madison Square Garden before starting to sing "Take a Bow." I also had to include "Umbrella"... ella ella, eh eh eh. Travie McCoy and Ke$ha opened.

Wonder Girls

When: October 2010

Where: Crowne Plaza Times Square, NYC

Song: "Nobody"

Notes: I haven't followed Korean pop music since the late '90s, but last fall I saw the Wonder Girls perform a set of several songs, all in English, at a brand marketing conference. They were examples of Park Jin-Young's international marketing savvy, and "Nobody" was their closing song. If I were in a K-pop group, I'd be the rapper for sure.

Apollo Run

When: December 2010

Where: Pianos, NYC

Songs: "That's How It Felt" and "All In Good Time"

Notes: Apollo Run is a Brooklyn indie band I've seen 3 times: at Pianos, Mercury Lounge, and Rockwood Music Hall. I love lead singer John McGrew's trumpet switcheroo in "That's How It Felt," and the soul-blues vibe of "All In Good Time."

Lady Gaga

When: February 2011

Where: Madison Square Garden, NYC

Songs: "Telephone" and "Born This Way"

Notes: I didn't truly appreciate her until I saw her at this concert -- which was filmed for her HBO special -- but while she may be kooky, I think Lady Gaga is the real deal. (I appreciated her again in May when she donated $200,000 to one of my agencies to support youth living in poverty.) I love the song "Telephone" with Beyoncé -- the first part of the video is so cute -- and the message of "Born This Way."

Florence + the Machine

When: June 2011

Where: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD

Song: "Dog Days Are Over"

Notes: Florence + the Machine opened for U2. I actually don't have any videos from the U2 concert because my battery was too drained after Florence! She looked and sounded amazing, despite the insane heat that summer day in Baltimore.

The Black Eyed Peas

When: September 2011

Where: Central Park, NYC

Song: "Where Is The Love"

Notes: This was Robin Hood Foundation's second attempt after the first Black Eyed Peas concert in Central Park earlier this year was rained out. It rained during this concert too, but thankfully, the show went on. It started absolutely pouring during "Where Is The Love," so I had to take cover under a large plastic Ikea bag (pardon the screams), but I actually had more fun that way!

That's all for now. I don't have plans to go to any concerts in the near future, but I would give a kidney to see Britney!

I hope y'all have a safe and happy Halloween weekend, especially during this freak snowstorm we've been having all day today. I was supposed to go to Six Flags Fright Fest at Great Adventure in NJ, but the park was closed due to the inclement weather. I have plans to go to Boo at the Zoo in the Bronx tomorrow, so I hope the weather cooperates.